Work in progress

I have been on about a fortnight making this blouse for a christening I am going to. I have also got to make a camisole top to go underneath it because the fabric is very see through, it is polyester chiffon, what a nightmare it is, it is certainly make me use my brain sewing this together so it doesn't look too homemade. It frays, slips when you sew it, shows all the inside stitches and the hems have to be handsewn because they don't look right when top stitched. I don't know if I will finish it in time because I don't want to spoil it now by rushing. The christening is next Sunday.

Here are some photographs.

I have put some ties on the back of the blouse for a change. I am in the process of hemming around the neck by hand, I have got half done.

My muslin is done

Well I have finished the muslin for my trousers, it wasn't as traumatic as I thought it would be, I have just taken my time and worked my way through the fitting process.

I am quite pleased with the fit although I had to make quite a few alterations to the muslin. The legs on the trousers were really wide so I measured a pair of ready to wear trousers that I liked and tapered these ones to the same width.

I have sat down , bent down and generally moved around with these practise trousers on and they seem fine. They seem to be sticking to my bum in the rear view, oh dear! it's where I've been sitting lol lol lol lol lol

I have chosen to do them in a navy, wool and polyester mix, they will also be lined with side pockets. I have to transfer all of the alterations I have made onto my pattern , then pre shrink my fabric, straighten the grain and wash and press the lining. Only after I have done all of that can I start sewing.

I may have to put them on hold for a couple of weeks because I am going to a chritsening and I could do with a new blouse so I will probably make that first, the same as the one below only in a floaty material.

Altering my trouser pattern

I need to alter my trouser pattern and make a muslin before I can even start sewing them, this is a pain to do and is the hardest part of dressmaking in my opinion. It involves cutting your pattern out in a cheap fabric, I generally use bleached calico, fitting it to your shape, making a note of the alterations and transferring the alterations to your pattern. It isn't as easy as that because the practise garment is on and off hundreds of times ( well I may be exaggerating just a little) to get the right fit.......I tend to want to overfit, but 2ins of spare room is needed at the hips for comfort so you can sit down.

You may ask why do I do this, the only answer I can come up with is, lovely comfy clothes, no tight waist squeezing the life out of you and crotch seams nearly cutting you in two.

The only trouble is, if my trousers go horribly wrong I won't want to sew anymore ever again as long as I live, then I wake up the next day and start making mistakes all over again lol lol.

Ugh.....Shower

My shower head wasn't functioning the way it should so I decided to buy a new one. I went for a middle of the road one, which I usually do with everything I buy, and it cost me a little over £30.00. Dougy said he wasn't too impressed with it but when I went in tonight it was lovely compared to the little trickle of water from the old one. I was standing there thoroughly enjoying it when all of a sudden the water disappeared and was coming from the bottom of the shower box.......ugh...I am furious.....after buying a new shower head which will be no good to me now, I am probably going to have to have a whole new shower.......I absolutely hate wasting money. I will wrap my new shower head up and put it away safely until needed.
I just thought I would share this little trauma with you.

Blouse

I have left this picture large so you can click on and scrutinize my work.

This fabric cost me £20.oo , I had the thread and buttons, and about 3 weeks work on and off. I still have some fabric left probably enough to make a cushion for the bed or something like that.

I have just clicked on to have a look at this magnified and the pocket doesn't look too good but that isn't a mistake it's my ironing I'm afraid.

All done and dusted

I haven't updated my blog for ages and anyone waiting to see the finished blouse, it has been washed and pressed ready to wear and it fits beautifully. I would have modelled it for you but that would be taking it a bit too far.

Making this up wasn't without it's problems though...if you read the posts below you can see in the photographs I have used a blue pen for marking, I have used theses pens for marking on numerous occasions and as soon as the garment enters water they disappear. Well I have washed this and they didn't disappear completely. I was absolutely mortified. The only thing I can think of is that I used detergent with my first wash, I should have used clear water first. It hasn't turned out too badly though because there is a pattern on the fabric and they don't show up too much. If you are going to use one of these pens for marking be very careful and rinse in clear water first to get rid of the markings and always test on a spare piece of fabric first. I certainly have learnt my lesson.

I am very happy with the finished garment, I have four of these blouses now, I think I may try a silky fabric next.....when, I don't know, I have a few alterations to make to other things and I have a few things to mend.

Work Horse

This is my much loved machine......I have only had this one a couple of years, the one before this is an embroidery machine which is well used as well, I have pictures on my wall that have been embroidered using this machine.....that one will be about 15 years old and still works well. This machine is heavy weight and and is simply a work horse but it will also do some basic embroidery stitches. This machine is fabulous for heavyweight upholstery fabrics.

My machines a like part of the family to me, I can't bare to part with them......Sharon has my other one at the moment, only on loan of course. I also have an overlocker which I have had forever and that still goes well, I use it all of the time.